ˈhaf-ˈmast 
ˈhäf-
: a point some distance but not necessarily halfway down below the top of a mast or staff or the peak of a gaff
half-masted; half-masting; half-masts
: to cause to hang at half-mast
half-mast a flag
Examples of half-mast in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025
Someone in the group offered a solution of continuing to practice holiday traditions, but to leave a bite of food untouched on the plate as a symbol of empathy—the culinary equivalent of flying a flag half-mast.
—Lea Donenberg, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2023
Half-staff is the preferred form of reference in presidential decrees while half-mast is used outside of the U.S.
—Ridah Syed, Journal Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for half-mast
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Noun
Flags across the country will fly at half-mast on Sunday on a national day of reflection.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025
Someone in the group offered a solution of continuing to practice holiday traditions, but to leave a bite of food untouched on the plate as a symbol of empathy—the culinary equivalent of flying a flag half-mast.
—Lea Donenberg, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
Verb
Patterson High’s junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps said Izaiah was a cadet, and shared a photo of the school’s flags flying at half-mast Tuesday.
—Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2023
Half-staff is the preferred form of reference in presidential decrees while half-mast is used outside of the U.S.
—Ridah Syed, Journal Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for half-mast
Cite this Entry
“Half-mast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-mast. Accessed 24 Dec. 2025.
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